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The Chisago City Council on Sept. 24 voted to send a proposed 2025 tax levy of $4,028,960 to the county auditor by the September deadline. Chisago City levied a total of $3.75 million in 2024. (The city can reduce the proposed levy before the end of the year but cannot increase it beyond the amount certified to the county in September.)

The city’s overall tax rate is proposed to increase 2.79 percent as the result of two factors—a 2.93 percent decrease in the city’s net tax capacity (valuation of all taxable property in the city) and a 7.9 percent increase in Chisago City’s proposed general fund levy of $2.6 million,.

The city’s General Fund Budget for operating expenses will increase $203,491 as the result of the following proposed line item budget increases: police department (8.8 percent), League of Minnesota Cities insurance premiums ( 3-10 percent), health insurance premiums (12.5 percent), employee cost of living pay increase (3.5 percent), a jump in compost site expenses, and increases in fire department training and radio contract costs. The operating levies for Ojiketa Regional Park and the city Economic Development Authority (EDA) will also increase slightly next year. The proposed 2025 levy includes $764,500 designated for future capital improvements. 

Mayor Jeremy Dresel commented that while no one likes to see taxes increase, the finance committee working on the 2025 budget tried hard to keep the 2025 increase manageable. 

City residents will have an opportunity to comment on the preliminary budget and proposed tax levy at a public hearing set for 6:35 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10. 

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